Position overview

Infrastructure and Health Support Services (IHSS) are an integral part of Canberra Health Services (CHS), delivering essential facility, infrastructure, and support services that enable Canberra Hospital and community-based health services to operate safely and effectively.

As part of IHSS, the Environmental Cleaning Services (ECS) team is responsible for delivering high-quality cleaning services across Canberra Hospital and community-based facilities. The service is essential in the effective operation of the overall health service by ensuring clean, safe, and welcoming environments that contribute to clinical operations and a positive experience for everyone who uses our facilities.

The Assistant Director, Operations role is responsible for the effective day to day delivery of cleaning services, ensuring all cleaning activities are performed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with infection prevention requirements, policies, and legislation. The role coordinates workforce operations, including rostering, supervision, performance management, and ensuring all staff are appropriately trained. It oversees quality audits and implementation of corrective actions and works with clinical and operational stakeholders to resolve issues, respond to incidents, and maintain service continuity.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

1. Provide leadership and support for operational service delivery across CHS sites, ensuring services are delivered safely, reliably, and in accordance with agreed standards, organisational requirements, and service expectations.
2. Lead, develop, and support high-performing teams by setting clear expectations, coaching supervisors and staff, and promoting accountability and effective service outcomes.
3. Oversee workforce coordination and operational resource management, including rostering, leave, shift allocation, backfill, budgets, equipment, and consumables to ensure effective staffing, service continuity, and efficient resource utilisation.
4. Manage routine operational risks, incidents, complaints, and service disruptions, ensuring timely response, resolution, compliance, and escalation of complex or high-risk matters where required.
5. Support governance, change management, and continuous improvement activities through implementation of operational plans, procedures, schedules, and quality assurance activities, and prepare high-level reporting to support governance, decision-making, and executive engagement.
6. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and oversee operational functions across multiple sites, ensuring service delivery is safe, reliable, and in line with agreed standards and organisational requirements.
• Proven capacity to build, lead, and sustain high-performing teams by setting clear expectations, providing coaching and support, and fostering a positive and accountable workplace culture.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing workforce planning, rostering, and allocation of resources, ensuring effective staffing, skill mix, and continuity of operations in a complex environment.
• Proven ability to manage operational resources, including budgets, equipment, and consumables, ensuring efficient utilisation and that assets are maintained and fit for purpose.
• Highly developed communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders, manage service requests, and resolve complex issues, complaints, and service disruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational risks and incidents, including escalation, compliance and high-quality reporting to support governance and decision-making.

Qualifications

Specific qualifications include, but is not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Knowledge of or the ability to gain an understanding of Infection Prevention and Control processes within a health care facility.

Desirable

• Relevant qualifications in leadership, management, business, or a related discipline (Certificate IV or higher) are desirable.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Specific experience includes but is not limited to the following.

Essential

• Experience working in operational leadership roles, preferably in a health care environment and with a large service delivery team.
• Administrative and computer skills, with the ability to use a variety of computer applications, and work within data bases and records management systems.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Demonstrated ability to lead and oversee complex operational services across multiple sites, ensuring safe, reliable, and high-quality service delivery aligned with organisational standards and priorities.
2. Proven capacity to lead, develop, and manage high-performing teams, including oversight of workforce planning, rostering, performance management, and staff capability to ensure continuity of service and achievement of outcomes.
3. Demonstrated experience managing operational resources, budgets, and assets, alongside the ability to identify, manage, and escalate risks and incidents, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and governance requirements.
4. Highly developed communication skills, with a proven ability to engage with stakeholders to resolve issues and effectively implement operational plans and continuous improvement activities.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviours consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.